it is diagnosed by "pinna exhibiting short or long pinnules with decurrent or non-decurrent base; midrib often reaching the apex; secondary veins dichotomously branched, with or without forming a reticulate venation; circular sori lacking indusium; sori with five to six annulate sporangia annulus; trilete, subtriangular, tetrahedral or round spores."[1] Phlebopteris angustiloba and Phlebopteris muensteri are suggested to have grown as herbaceous plants rather than as tree ferns.[3]
The oldest fossil of the genus is known from the Ladinian of Italy.[2] The genus was almost globally distributed during the Jurassic, with a concentration of species in the northern hemisphere.[1] Species like Phlebopteris polypodioides, P. tracyi, and P. angustiloba are suggested to have grown in humid habitats as understory vegetation,[1][3] with Phlebopteris woodwardii suggested to have grown along riverbanks, as well as in heaths and peat swamps.[1]
